Here is my recommendation for anyone who is serious about learning to speak, read, write, and understand French: You need to listen to spoken French (by a native speaker, if possible) and read French in some form (fiction or non) as often as you can, preferably on a daily basis.
Both of these things are easily achieved with today's resources on the Internet, so no excuses! I have found two excellent podcasts that are specially made for French learners, are entirely in French, are made by native speakers who speak slowly and clearly, have free transcripts available to download and read while you listen, and are about topics of general interest on France and francophone culture. One is called "Français Authentique" (by Johan) and the other is "Native French Speech" (by Pierre and Aurelie), and there are links to each of them on my page "des liens utils." Johan does both podcasts and YouTube videos, while Pierre and Aurelie just have the podcasts. Both versions have over 200 podcasts of between eight and twenty minutes long (and Johan has nearly that many videos as well). They also offer more advanced services for a fee (like one-on-one coaching), but the benefits of the podcasts, videos, and transcripts are available for free.
Both podcasts were started because their creators had to improve their own foreign language skills and found that listening to native speakers just talking was the easiest way. Johan decries the need for any focus on grammar and vocabulary, although he reluctantly explains a few aspects of it because of the demand from his followers. Pierre and Aurelie don't talk about grammar at all but just French culture like places in France they have visited with their kids. If you want to get in the habit of thinking and dreaming in French, you really need to listen to long audio programs like these where only French is spoken. Once you feel comfortable understanding what these speakers are saying, then you can move on to listening to French spoken at full speed without a safety net on RFI (Radio France Internationale) or watching video clips of the news on France24.
Of course, there are also plenty of YouTube videos and other resources for French grammar and vocabulary, many of which are explained using cute graphics and English, to make it easier for you to understand the concepts, but Johan is right that grammar alone is not enough to make you a speaker. I also have some other resources on my "lecture" and "audio" pages on this site with book selections, poetry, folk songs, short articles, audio books, and more for your reading and listening pleasure. Keep checking back for more to come in the next few weeks.
As for reading, there are more resources than I could list. In addition to the transcripts of the podcasts, there are numerous magazines and newspapers that have websites with articles in French (again, plenty of links on my pages). You could also read the French version of Wikipedia or look for free links to French comics ("bandes déssinées"). I have many French books in my classroom of all levels, but you can find things to read without spending a single Euro. There is also the public library, but I don't know how extensive their French offerings might be.
I have found other podcasts and YouTube channels of various levels of difficulty and usefulness. You should hunt around and find some that interest you personally, but the two mentioned above are quite effective for training your ear to understand French and to start speaking by imitating others (and following their syntax, pronunciation, and flow).
Learning French is not difficult, but it does take time, intensity, and a certain level of commitment. You can't just pick it up casually with an app or by listening in class once in a while. You really have to make an effort! Check out the other pages on this website to help you get started.
Bonne chance!
Both of these things are easily achieved with today's resources on the Internet, so no excuses! I have found two excellent podcasts that are specially made for French learners, are entirely in French, are made by native speakers who speak slowly and clearly, have free transcripts available to download and read while you listen, and are about topics of general interest on France and francophone culture. One is called "Français Authentique" (by Johan) and the other is "Native French Speech" (by Pierre and Aurelie), and there are links to each of them on my page "des liens utils." Johan does both podcasts and YouTube videos, while Pierre and Aurelie just have the podcasts. Both versions have over 200 podcasts of between eight and twenty minutes long (and Johan has nearly that many videos as well). They also offer more advanced services for a fee (like one-on-one coaching), but the benefits of the podcasts, videos, and transcripts are available for free.
Both podcasts were started because their creators had to improve their own foreign language skills and found that listening to native speakers just talking was the easiest way. Johan decries the need for any focus on grammar and vocabulary, although he reluctantly explains a few aspects of it because of the demand from his followers. Pierre and Aurelie don't talk about grammar at all but just French culture like places in France they have visited with their kids. If you want to get in the habit of thinking and dreaming in French, you really need to listen to long audio programs like these where only French is spoken. Once you feel comfortable understanding what these speakers are saying, then you can move on to listening to French spoken at full speed without a safety net on RFI (Radio France Internationale) or watching video clips of the news on France24.
Of course, there are also plenty of YouTube videos and other resources for French grammar and vocabulary, many of which are explained using cute graphics and English, to make it easier for you to understand the concepts, but Johan is right that grammar alone is not enough to make you a speaker. I also have some other resources on my "lecture" and "audio" pages on this site with book selections, poetry, folk songs, short articles, audio books, and more for your reading and listening pleasure. Keep checking back for more to come in the next few weeks.
As for reading, there are more resources than I could list. In addition to the transcripts of the podcasts, there are numerous magazines and newspapers that have websites with articles in French (again, plenty of links on my pages). You could also read the French version of Wikipedia or look for free links to French comics ("bandes déssinées"). I have many French books in my classroom of all levels, but you can find things to read without spending a single Euro. There is also the public library, but I don't know how extensive their French offerings might be.
I have found other podcasts and YouTube channels of various levels of difficulty and usefulness. You should hunt around and find some that interest you personally, but the two mentioned above are quite effective for training your ear to understand French and to start speaking by imitating others (and following their syntax, pronunciation, and flow).
Learning French is not difficult, but it does take time, intensity, and a certain level of commitment. You can't just pick it up casually with an app or by listening in class once in a while. You really have to make an effort! Check out the other pages on this website to help you get started.
Bonne chance!